Layoffs, possible closure rumoured at Bizarre Creations

If rumour is to be be believed, UK studio Bizarre Creations, responsible for the Project Gotham series and this month's 007: Bloodstone, looks to be facing redundancies and even closure tonight.

Various industry sources have indicated that the Activision-owned developer, based in Liverpool, is to lose potentially all of its 200 staff.

Giant Bomb reports a source as claiming Bizarre is going through a "90-day consultation period" and "statutory redundancy."

Activision acquired Bizarre in 2007. Its new IP Blur, released earlier this year, allegedly sold poorly, while James Bond shooter Bloodstone has seen unfavourable reviews.

While there has yet to be any direct confirmation on the matter, rumour and sympathy is mounting quickly, with UK developer Turbulenz already encouraging any affected staff to apply for work in its Guildford studio.

Update: Activision has issued a statement that it may consider a sale of Bizarre Creations as it reassesses the business.

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No way. I feel very sorry for all the guys at the studio. I know quite a few guys who were made redundant from the Liverpool Studio in March went there and to face it again in the same year must be gutting. But this is the problem with High Cost Console Development (thinking also about Realtime Worlds). I hope everyone involved can see that there are a wealth of opportunities out there on a whole range of platforms - not just the normal boxes. Don't fear the reaper....the afterlife is great ;)

"Over the past three years since our purchase of Bizarre Creations, the fundamentals of the racing genre have changed significantly. Although we made a substantial investment in creating a new IP, Blur, it did not find a commercial audience. Bizarre is a very talented team of developers, however, because of the broader economic factors impacting the market, we are exploring our options regarding the future of the studio, including a potential sale of the business."

"Bizarre is a very talented team of developers, however, because of the broader economic factors impacting the market, we are exploring our options regarding the future of the studio, including a potential sale of the business."

Why..? Because Activision don't need a "talented team of developers"? After losing Infinity Ward's core, I'd argue that that isn't true...